भ्रातर पूर्वजाताश्च सुसमृद्धाश्च सर्वशः। निकृत्या निर्जिता देवैरसुराः पाण्डवर्षभ
O bull among the Pandavas, even elder brothers, though prosperous in every way, have been defeated by the gods through deceit.
एवं बलवतः सर्वमिति बुद्ध्वा महीपते। जहि शत्रून्महाबाहो परां निकृतिमास्थितान्
Thus, understanding that everything belongs to the powerful, O king, destroy your enemies, O mighty-armed one, who have resorted to extreme deceit.
न ह्यर्जुनसमः कश्चिद्युधि योद्धा धनुर्धरः। भविता वा पुमान्कश्चिन्मत्समो वा गदाधरः
There is truly no archer equal to Arjuna in battle, nor is there any man who will be my equal with the mace.
सत्वेन कुरुते युद्धं राजन्सुबलवानपि। न प्रमाणेन नोत्साहात्सत्वस्थो भव पाण्डव
Even one who is strong and powerful, O King, fights by virtue of courage; not by mere measure or enthusiasm—so stand firm in courage, O son of Pandu.
सत्वं हि मूलमर्थस् यवितथं यदतोऽन्यथा। न तु प्रसक्तं भवति वृक्षच्छायेन हैमनी
For courage is the root of success; when that is lacking, nothing else avails—just as winter does not come from the shade of a tree.
अर्थत्यागोऽपि कार्यः स्यादर्थं श्रेयांसमिच्छता। बीजौपम्यन कौन्तेय मा ते भूदत्र संशयः
Even the abandonment of wealth may be proper for one who seeks greater good; let there be no doubt in you about this, O son of Kunti, as with the analogy of the seed.
अर्थेन तु समोऽनर्थो यत्र लब्धो महोदयः। न तत्र विपणः कार्यः खरकण्डूयनं हि तत्
But when a great gain has been obtained, where wealth and misfortune are equal, there should be no bargaining there—for that is like scratching a sore.
एवमेव मनुष्येन्द्र धर्मं त्यक्त्वाऽल्पकं नरः। बृहन्तं धर्ममाप्नोति स बुद्ध इति निश्चितम्
In the same way, O best of men, when a person abandons a lesser virtue, he attains a greater virtue; such a one is truly wise, this is certain.
अमित्रं मित्रसंपन्नं मित्रैर्भिन्दन्ति पण्डितः
The wise break an enemy who is supported by friends, with the help of friends.
सत्वेन कुरुते युद्धं राजन्सुबलवानपि। नोद्यमेन न होत्राभिः सर्वाः स्वीकुरुते प्रजाः
Even one who is strong and powerful, O King, fights by virtue of courage; not by mere effort or rituals does he win over all people.
सर्वथा संहतैरेव दुर्बलैर्बलवानपि। अमित्रः शक्यते हन्तुं मधुहा भ्रमरैरिव
In every way, even the strong enemy can be slain by the weak, if they unite—just as the killer of Madhu was destroyed by bees.
यथा राजन्प्रजाः सर्वाः सूर्यः पाति गभस्तिभिः। हन्ति चैव तथैव त्वं सदृशः सवितुर्भव
Just as the sun, O King, protects all creatures with his rays and also destroys them, so too should you be like the sun.
एतच्चापि तपो पाजन्पुराणमिति नः श्रुतम्। विधिना पालनं भूमेर्यत्कृतं नः पितामहैः
And we have heard that this is also the ancient penance, that the protection of the earth was performed by our ancestors according to rule.
न तथा तपसा राजँल्लोकान्प्राप्नोति क्षत्रियः। यथा सृष्टेन युद्धेन विजयेनेतरेण वा
A Kshatriya does not attain the worlds so much by penance, O King, as by battle waged according to duty, or by victory in another way.
अपेयात्किल भा सूर्याल्लक्ष्मीश्चन्द्रमसस्तथा। इतिलोको व्यवसितो दृष्ट्वेमां भवतोव्यथाम्
Just as radiance departs from the sun and beauty from the moon, so the world is convinced, seeing this present distress of yours.
भवतश्च प्रशंसाभिर्निन्दाभिरितरस्य च। कथयन्त्यः परिषदः पृथग्राजन्समागताः
The assembled councils, O King, speak separately of your praises and the reproaches of the other.
इदमभ्यधिकं राजन्ब्राह्मणाः कुरवश्च ते। समेताः कथयन्तीह मुदिताः सत्यसन्धताम्
This, O King, is what the Brahmanas and your Kurus, gathered together here, joyfully declare about your truthfulness.
यन्न मोहान्न कार्पण्यान्न लोभान्न भयादपि। अनृतं किंचिदुक्तं ते न कामान्नार्थकारणात्
Never from delusion, nor from weakness, nor from greed, nor even from fear, nor from desire or for the sake of gain, have you ever spoken a falsehood.
यदेनः कुरुते किंचिद्राजा भूमिमवाप्नुवन्। सर्वं तन्नुदते पश्चाद्यज्ञैर्विपुलदक्षिणैः
If a king commits any wrong while conquering the earth, he removes it afterwards by great sacrifices with abundant gifts.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददद्ग्रामान्गाश्च राजन्सहस्रशः। मुच्यते वीर पापेभ्यस्तमोभ्य इव चन्द्रमाः
By giving villages and cattle by the thousands to Brahmanas, O King, a hero is freed from sins, just as the moon is freed from darkness.
पौरजानपदाः सर्वे प्रायशः कुरुनन्दन। सवृद्धबालाः सहिताः शंसन्ति त्वां युधिष्ठिर
All the citizens and people, O descendant of Kuru, together with their elders and children, speak of you, Yudhishthira.
श्वदृतौ क्षीरमासक्तं ब्रह्म वा वृषले यथा। सत्यं स्तेने बलं नार्यां राज्यं दुर्योधने तथा
Just as milk is tainted by a dog, or as sacred knowledge is corrupted in a low-born person, so truth in a thief, strength in a woman, and sovereignty in Duryodhana are likewise misplaced.
इतिलोके निर्वचनं पुरश्चरति भारत। अपि चैताः स्त्रियो बालाः स्वाध्यायमधिकुर्वते
Thus, this saying circulates among people, O Bharata; even these women and children now engage in reciting it.
इमामवस्थां च गते सहास्माभिररिंदम्। हन्त नष्टाः स्म सर्वे वै भवतोपद्रवे सति
Having reached this state together with us, O subduer of foes, alas, we are all ruined if calamity comes upon you.
स भवान्रथमास्थाय सर्वोपकरणान्वितम्। त्वरमाणोऽभिनिर्यातु विप्रेभ्योऽर्थविभावकः
Therefore, mount your chariot, fully equipped with all its fittings, and swiftly depart to distribute wealth to the Brahmins.
वाचयित्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठानद्यैव गजसाह्वयम्। अस्त्रविद्भिः परिवृतोभ्रातृभिर्दृढधन्विभिः
After summoning the foremost Brahmins today to the elephant arena, surrounded by skilled archers and your brothers with strong bows,
आशीविषसमैर्वीरैर्मरुद्भिरिव वृत्रहा। अमित्रांस्तेजसा मृद्गन्नसुरानिव वृत्रहा। श्रियमादत्स्व कौन्तेय धार्तराष्ट्रान्महाबल
With warriors fierce as venomous serpents, like Indra among the Maruts, crush your enemies with your brilliance as Indra destroyed the Asuras, and seize prosperity from the mighty sons of Dhritarashtra, O son of Kunti.
न हि गाण्डीवमुक्तानां शराणां गार्ध्रवाससाम्। स्पर्शमाशीविषाभानां मर्त्यः कश्चन संसहेत्
No mortal can withstand the touch of arrows released from Gandiva, clad in eagle feathers, fierce as venomous snakes.
न स वीरो न मातङ्गो न च सोऽश्वोस्ति भारत। यः सहेत गदावेगं मम क्रुद्धस्य संयुगे
There is no hero, no elephant, nor any horse, O Bharata, who can endure the force of my mace when I am enraged in battle.
सृञ्जयैः सहकैकेयैर्वृष्णीनां वृषभेण च। कथंस्विद्युधि कौन्तेय न राज्यं प्राप्नुयामहे
With the Sṛñjayas, the Kaikeyas, and the chief of the Vrishnis, O son of Kunti, how could we not attain the kingdom in battle?